TRADERS in Mbekweni have been angered by the way in which a recent agreement on spaza shops in Mbekweni is being contravened.
The Mbekweni area is heavily traded and there has been an increase in trading, especially by refugees from African countries to the north of South Africa. This causes conflict in the community.
In order to address this issue, the Mbekweni Traders Association and the Somali Traders Association approached the Drakenstein Municipality with a view to developing an agreement that would regulate the establishment of any new spaza shops, in co-operation with Sanco.
This agreement, aimed at reducing the level of competition, was signed by all parties (Drakenstein Municipality, Mbekweni Traders Association and the Somali Traders Association) on 22 November.
It included stipulations that a letter of support from the joint committee and building plans should be submitted by new traders.
No new shops will be allowed except where there is expansion of residential areas, and traders in over-traded areas like Silvertown will be asked to move.
Shops may only be owned by Drakenstein residents, or legal refugees, and only one refugee store per block is allowed. One trader may not own more than one store per street.
A follow-up meeting was held on 22 February informing all traders about the agreement and the process to be followed for applying for new spaza shops. A joint committee between all parties was established to manage and monitor this process.
Said one Mbekweni resident, Loyiso Sibelekwane: “With this agreement, the Municipality is allowing foreigners to dictate to residents of Mbeweni on the location of traders. This means that the Municipality is taking sides against its own people.
“The foreigners are killing our shops, and they are not plowing back into the community, nor are they paying tax like local residents.
“Ďf they want to trade in the area, they must rent space in the CBD, not in Mbekweni, where they are increasingly competing with people who are struggling to make ends meet.”
In reaction, a municipal spokesperson said that the Municipality had acted in the interests of all residents by drawing up the agreement.
“However, we cannot manage businesses on behalf of our residents - we can only provide the regulatory environment within which they can operate.”
